Method of and apparatus for manipulating talking machine or phonograph records



Dec. 11, 1934. R' UNA 1,983,941

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed Oct. 10, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet l .l. 2 4 t 9 e \1 3 w a w 1 a w k m N% S M 6 I T m D 1934- v R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPU TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed OCT. 10, 1929 Dec. 11, 1934. R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed Oct. 10, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1934- R. F. MALLlNA 1,983,941

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed Oct. 10, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 11, 1934.

Patented Dec. 11, 1924 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPU- LATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONO- GRAPH RECORDS Rudolph F. Mallina,

New York, N. Y., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Radio Corporation of America, New York, N. Y.,

Delaware Application October 10,

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for manipulating talking machine or phonograph records.

In accordance with my invention, a turntable supported talking machine or phonograph record is passed to a structure by automatic mechanism disposed in a casing carrying or supporting said structure.

More particularly, in accordance with my invention, the aforesaid structure is a casing pivoted to the aforesaid casing and, at times, forming a cover therefor.

Further in accordance with my invention, the aforesaid turntable has a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records grouped thereon in superposed relation, sound being successively reproduced from said records individually, each record, after sound has been reproduced therefrom, being passed to said structure or casing cover; more particularly, each of said records are moved as last described under the influence of energy derived from the rotary motion thereof.

Further in accordance with my invention, the respective topmost records of a group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed in superposed relation on a turntable movable along a substantially vertical path are successively passed from said turntable along a path extending laterally from but one level of said vertical path.

Further in accordance with my invention, a vertically movable turntable carrying a group of talking machine or phonograph records is suitably biased in an' upward direction, as by a spring, or otherwise, the individual records being removed from said turntable after each period of sound reproduction, and each successive topmost record of the group of records being disposed at substantially the same level while sound is being reproduced therefrom.

Further in accordance with my invention, operation of automatic mechanism embodying a reciprocatory turntable carrying a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records is initiated, after each period of sound reproduction, preferably by a circular groove on each record which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the record center and which forms a continuation of the spiral sound reproducing groove.

Further objects, characteristics and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

My invention resides in the methods, apparatus, features of construction and combination of a corporation of 1929, Serial No. 398,740

parts of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my methods and for an illustration of one of the many forms my apparatus may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of portable talking machine or phonograph mechamsm;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, and showing mechanism disposed in the casing illustrated at the right in Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and illustrates mechanism directly supporting the turntable;

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are vertical sectional views, partly in elevation, and are taken, respectively, on the lines 6-6, '77, 8-8 and 9-9 of Fig. 2, each looking in the direction of the respective sets of arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical, sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, B represents the base or body of a talking machine or phonograph and C represents a cover or top pivoted or hinged thereto. In the example shown, base B and cover C are receptacle-like in character, the latter however, being of less depth than the former.

At or adjacent its top, the base B has a transverse member or motor board m suitably secured thereto. Beneath the motor board m, there is disposed suitable horn structure H with which the vertical section of a tone arm or taper tube T communicates. The latter extends through the motor board m and merges into a horizontal section spaced thereabove. The tone arm T is mounted for free oscillatory movement in any suitable supporting structure A which comprises an upwardly extending arm terminating in a bearing 12 so controlling the horizontal section of tone arm T that a given point thereon moves only in substantially a single plane, usually a horizontal plane.

Pivoted to the tone arm T is the usual goose neck g carrying any suitable sound box S having a stylus or needle s for direct coaction with a talking machine or phonograph record, said stylus s actuating the sound box diaphragm to produce sound waves which pass through the tone arm '1, then through the horn structure H, and emerge from the latter through an opening or passage 10 formed in the motor board m, Figs. 1 and 4.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the cover C may have pivoted therein a carrier D utilizable, ordinarily, as a receptacle or container for a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records during transportation of the herein-described mechanism.

An arrangement of the general character described above is more fully disclosed in the pending application of Welland and Williams, Serial No. 343,438, filed Feb. 28, 1929, where the base B, cover and motor board m are disclosed as being formed, usually, of sheet metal. it shall. be understeod, however, that such an arrangement is one only of many that are utilinable in accordance with my invention.

Disposed within the base B is a suitable frame or support comprising members or plates 1 and 1a maintained in suitable spaced relation by devices or members 2. The aforesaid frame or support is anchored within the base B in any suitable manner, the horn structure H being disposed partly around said frame or support and the mechanism carried thereby.

Disposed between the plates 1 and la is a rotatable drum 3 carried by a sleeve 4 rotatable on a shaft 5 suitably journaled in the plates 1 and 1a. The drum 3 contains a spiral spring, not shown, but having one end thereof connected to said drum 3 and the other end to shaft 5. The latter carries a gear 6 meshing with a gear 7, Fig. 4, carried by a member 8 controlled for rotation only in one direction under the influence of an operating handle 9. Spring motor mechanism and winding mechanism therefor are well known to the art and any suitable type may be employed. That of the character illustrated is more specifically described in the aforesaid pending application of Weiland and Williams. In general, rotation of the handle 9 and sleeve 8 serve to wind the aforesaid spring which, in unwinding, rotates the drum 3. Accordingly, from the latter, power is obtained for rotating the talking machine or phonograph turntable and for operating the hereinafter described automatic mechanism.

Carried by and rotatable with the drum 3 is a gear 10 meshing with and driving a gear 11 car ried, in the example shown, by a sleeve 12 suitably fixed in non-slidable relation to and for rotation with a shaft 13 suitably journaled in the plates 1 and 1a. Sleeve 12 carries two gears 14 and 15, Figs. 3 and 4. Gear 14 meshes with a gear 16 suitably fixed in non-slidable relation to and for rotation with a turntable shaft 17 suitably journaledin the plates 1 and 1a. Accordingly, as the drum 3 rotates, energy is transmitted through the chain of mechanism just described to thereby impart rotative movement to the turntable shaft 17.

Gear meshes with and drives a gear 18 carried by a sleeve 19 suitably fixed in nonslidable relation to and for rotation with a cam shaft 20 suitably journaled in the plates 1 and 1a. Above the sleeve 19, another sleeve 21 is fixed to the shaft 20 in the same manner as is the sleeve 19. Sleeve 21 carries a clutch wheel or spider 22 with which coacts the tooth 23a of a clutch lever 23 pivoted at 24 to a disk or plate 25 carried by a sleeve 26 freely rotatable on the shaft 20. Lever 23 is suitably biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, as by a helical spring 2'7, one end of which is connected to a pin or post 23b depending from the lever 23 and the other end to a pin or post 25adepending from the plate 25, Fig. 6.

Movable with the disk 25 are two cams K and K1. As illustrated, cam K is carried by and movable with the sleeve 26 while cam K1 is suitably secured directly to the disk 25, as by screws 28.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, a lever 29 is shown as pivoted on a member or post 30 upstanding from the plate 1. Lever 29 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, by a spring 31 suitably connected thereto and to the plate 1. Lever 29 comprises an upstanding bracket 29a adjustably carrying a screw 32 utilizable as hereinafter described. Lever 29 also comprises a roller or part 2922 coactable with a cam surface 25b of disk 25. Lever 29 further comprises an angular section 290 coactable with the aforesaid clutch lever 23.

Pivoted to the above described post 30 is a lever 33 biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, by a spring 34. Lever 33 carries a rack member 35, preferably adjustably mounted thereon, and with which coacts a pawl 36 pivoted on a member or arm 38 projecting laterally from and fixed to the vertical section of the tone arm T. Pawl 36 is biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, by a spring 39 connected thereto and to .a lug projecting from arm 38, the action of said spring 39 being limited by a lug 38a projecting from said arm 38 and coacting with the end of pawl 36.

Upstanding from the lever 33 are spaced ears 33a with which are associated spaced ears 40a of a lever 40, a pin or pivot 41 passing through all of said ears, said lever 40, therefore, being carried by lever 33 and being freely oscillatory in a vertical direction. Lever 40 comprises a depending section 405 coactable with the aforesaid screw 32 under the influence of a spring 42 disposed between the levers 33 and 40. Lever 40 comprises an inclined or cam surface 400 and a depending lug. 40d having a screw 43 adjustable therein, said cam surface 400 and screw 43 being utilizable as hereinafter described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, there is illustrated a circular turntable 44 for supporting one or more talking machine or phonograph records R each provided with a centrally-disposed perforation through which the turntable shaft 1'7 extends. Turntable 44 rests on and is supported by a disk 45 perforated at its center and having a. sleeve 45a depending therefrom, the shaft 1'7 passing freely through the sleeve 45a and the aforesaid perforation in the disk 45. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the shaft 17 comprises a laterally extending pin 17a disposed within a. slot 45b extending axially of the sleeve 45a. Preferably, a second sleeve 45d depends from the disk 45 in concentric relation with respect to the sleeve 45a, the two sleeves forming a housing receiving one end of a helical spring 46 through which the sleeve 45a and shaft 17 extend, said spring 46 being supported by a member 47 carried by a bearing collar 43 rotated by the gear 16 and suitably journaled in the plate 1.

In operation, rotation imparted to the shaft 17 is transmitted to the collar 48, member 47, spring 46, disk 45 and its depending sleeves, turntable 44 and the record or records supported thereby. As hereinafter described, the disk 45 and its depending sleeves, turntable 44 and the record or records thereon are periodically de- Lil pressed, during any period of automatic operation, against the expansive effect of spring 46.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, one end of a lever 49, at its roller 49a, is shown as coacting with the cam K, said lever 49 being pivoted on a post 50, Fig. 4, upstanding from the plate 1, the cam roller 49a of said lever 49 being suitably biased into engagement with the cam K, as by a spring 51 connected to said lever and to the plate 1, Fig. 2. Connected to the end of lever 49 is one end of a link 52, the other end of which is connected to a lever 53 mounted on a shaft 54 for imparting oscillatory movement thereto. Upstanding from the plate 1 is a support comprising upstanding, spaced arms 55, 55, Fig. 4, in which the shaft 54 is journaled. Between the arms 55, 55 a bracket 56 is secured to the shaft 54 for oscillatory movement therewith. Bracket 56 comprises spaced, upstanding arms 56a, 56a supporting a rod or member 57 on which an U-shaped member 58 is loosely mounted. Member 58 has curved arms 58a, 58a extending from opposite sides thereof, said arms 58a, 58a carrying the respective rollers 58b which coact with the flange 45e of sleeve 45d, Fig. 5.

When the cam K moves to permit spring 51 to swing lever 49 counter-clockwise, Fig. 2, the bracket 56 is similarly swung, Fig. 3, and the rollers 58b engage fiange 45c of sleeve 45d to depress the turntable 44 against the action of spring 46. Thereafter, as cam K moves lever 49 clockwise, Fig. 2, and expanding spring 51, the turntable 44 is elevated under the influence of spring 46. This action will be more fully described hereinafter.

Upstanding from the cam K is a pin or post 59, Figs. 2 and 3, carrying spacing washers 60 between which is disposed a lever 61 having an elongated, closed slot 61:]. in which the aforesaid pin 59 travels. Lever 61 is pivoted at-62 to a lever 63 spaced above and pivoted to the aforesaid plate 1, said lever 63 being suitably biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, as by a spring 63a connected thereto and to the plate 1.

Lever 63 has securely fixed thereto an upstanding member or post 64 extending through an elongated slot 65 in the motor board m. In the example illustrated, post 64 is of U-shaped configuration and inclined, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 9. Post 64 carries a rod 66 to which levers 6'7 and 68 are pivoted, said levers being suitably biased into engagement with each other at 69, as by a helical spring '70 wound upon the rod 66 and contacting at its ends 70a with the respective levers 6'7 and 68, Fig. 9.

Freely pivoted to the aforesaid post 59 is a lever 71 having an elongated, closed slot 710. in which is received a post 72 projecting first laterally and then downwardly from and fixed to the vertical section of tone arm T, Fig. 3.

The structure controlled by lever 61 is utilizable for discharging the topmost record R from the turntable 44 after each period of sound reproduction while lever '71 is utilizable for moving the sound box S laterally from a position above the end of the spiral groove from which sound has been just reproduced. This will be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, a lever 73 is shown as disposed above and pivoted to a pin or post '74 upstanding from the plate 1. Lever '73 comprises a plurality of arms or extensions 73a, 73b and 73c.

Arm 73a of lever '73 carries a laterally projecting member or roller coacting with the inner surface of cam K1 and with a low section '75 thereof. Except for, said low section '75, cam K1 is shaped substantially as an annulus.

Arm 73b of lever '73 is pivoted to one end of a link 76, the other end of which is secured to a post or pin 7'7 extending through an opening 1'75 in the plate 1 and secured to a lever '78 pivoted, preferably, to a member 79 depending from the aforesaid plate 1. Lever '78 is suitably. biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, as by a helical spring 80. Lever '78, at one end, comprises an inclined face 78a with which coacts the end of a rod 81 threaded through the plate 1 and extending upwardly through the motor board m where it carries a manually actuatable knob 810., Fig. 3. Lever '78, at its other end, comprises a flange or projection 78b carrying a pad 82 of leather, or equivalent, coactable with a disk 83 of suitable governor mechanism, all as more specifically hereinafter described.

Arm 73c of lever '73 coacts with a nose or extension 84a of a disk 84 pivoted on a member 85 upstanding from the plate 1. Disk 84 also comprises a wall 84b coactable with a stop member 86 likewise upstanding from the plate 1. Disk 84, further, comprises a notch 84c receiving one end of a lever 8'7 passing through an opening in the plate 1 and pivoted, preferably, to a member 88 depending therefrom. The other end of lever 8'7 comprises a flange or projection 87a carrying a pad 89 of leather, or the aforesaid disk 83. As illustrated particularly in Fig. 2, the pads 82 and 89 are disposed on opposite sides of the disk 83.

Preferably, and as illustrated, a member 90 upstands from the disk 84 to which is pivoted a lever 91 having a section extending upwardly through the motor board m, Fig. 3, said section terminating in a manually operable section 91a disposed above said motor board m. Connected to lugs upstanding from the lever 91 and disk 84 are the respective ends of a spring 92, Fig. 2, utilizable for biasing the lever 91 in a. clockwise direction, Fig. 2, on and with respect to the disk 84, the biasing efiect of spring 92 being limited by engagement effected between said lever 91 and a stop projection 84d of disk 84.

Lever 91 comprises a nose 91b coactable with and held in engagement, at times, with the end of one arm 93a of a lever 93 by a spring 94 connected, respectively, to lugs upstanding from the nose 91b of lever 91 and the plate 1, Fig. 2. Lever 93 is pivoted on a member 95 upstanding from the plate 1 and comprises arms 93b and 93c in addition to the aforesaid arm 93a. Said lever 93 is suitably biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, as by a helical spring 96 connected thereto and to the plate 1.

Arm 93a of lever 93 carries a depending pin 93f coactable with a cam surface 84] of the disk 84, Fig. 2.

Arm 93b of lever 93 carries, at its end, a member 9'7 having an angular end 9711, said member 97 preferably being constructed of stiff, resilient material and utilizable as hereinafter described.

Arm 930 of lever 93 comprises a depending lug or projection 93c coactable with the aforesaid screw 43 which, as stated, is carried by the lug 40d of lever 40.

Overlying the lever '73 and pivoted on the same post '74 to which the latter is pivoted is a lever 98 having extensions or arms 98a, 98b and 980.

Arm 98a of lever 98 has connected thereto one end of a rod or member 99, the other end of which comprises an elongated, closed slot 99a receiving a pin 100 upstanding from the elevated equivalent, coactable with end of plate 1, Fig. 3. Member 99 is suitably biased from right to left, Fig. 3, as by a helical spring 101 connected at one end to pin and at its other end to a pin 102 upstanding from said member 99. Member 99, at its end removed from lever 98, comprises a lateral projection 99b coactable, as hereinafter described, with the end 103a of a lever 103 pivoted on a member 104 extending transversely of and connected to the arms of the aforesaid U-shaped post 64, said lever 103 coacting with a suitable stop, not shown, so that it is swingable only in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 9. The other end 1031) of lever 103, if one or more records are on the turntable 44, is controlled by it or them, as hereinafter more fully described.

As illustrated particularly in Fig. 2, lever 73 .is suitably biased in a counter-clockwise direction, as by a helical spring 105 connected at one end to a lug projecting therefrom and at its other end to a post 106 upstanding from the plate 1.

Arm 98b of lever 98 comprises an upstanding end extension having threaded therein a screw 108 coactable with the aforesaid spring 97, as hereinafter more fully described.

Arm 980 of lever 98 extends upwardly, Figs. 6 and 8, and, adjacent its end, comprises a depending member 109 coactable with the aforesaid cam surface 400 of lever 40. Arm 980 of lever 98 also has connected thereto one end of a link 110, the other end of which is threaded to thereby adjustably carry a nut 111 coactable with the lateral extension 112a of a U-shaped bracket 112, said other end of link extending loosely through the aforesaid lateral extension 1120.. Member 112 is pivoted at 113 to a second U-shaped member 114 depending from, carried by and immovable with respect to the motor board m. Extending through a slot in said motor board m is a manually actuatable lever 115 having a rod 116 rigidly secured thereto and projecting therefrom. Rod 116 comprises oppositely extending, alined trunnions 116a, 116a received respectively, in alined apertures formed in the respective arms of member 114. Rod 116 coacts, at its free end, with the head 117a of a stem 117 freely slidable in the transverse section of member 112. A helical spring 118 coiled around the stem 117 biases the head 117a into engagement with the end of rod 116.

Mechanism of the character just described, namely, the parts 112118 is well known. Briefly, the lever 115 is pivoted on the trunnions 116a and when swung in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 8, the rod 116 depresses the stem 117 and compresses the spring 118. Just as the lever 115 moves beyond the middle of its path of movement, the spring 118 expands and snaps the member 112 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 8, such action of spring 118 also causing the lever 115 to complete its movement in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 8. Obviously, the mem ber 112 may be caused to snap in a direction the reverse of that just described by operating the lever 115 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 8.

Extending through an opening in the motor board m is a reciprocatory knob or member 119 to which is connected an angular arm 120a forming one end of a rod or member 120 mounted for oscillatory movement in bearings 121, 121, Fig. 8, depending from the motor board m. Member 120, at its other end, comprises a second angular arm 120b coactable with a finger 33b of the aforesaid lever 33.

The above described arm 730 of lever 73 has connected thereto one end of a link 122, the other end of which is connected to a lever 123 pivoted on a member 124 upstanding from the plate 1.

Lever 123 carries a member 125, preferably, of

stiff resilient material which coacts with the post 72 to move the stylus s of sound box S into the record spiral sound reproducing groove, all as more specifically hereinafter described.

As hereinbefore stated, the levers 67 and 68 are utilizable for periodically discharging the topmost record R from the turntable 44. To this end, the end of lever 67 removed from the pivot rod 66 should form an angular seat 67a, Fig. 9, the end of lever 68 adjacent thereto being beveled or pointed as indicated at 68a. Coactable with the end of lever 67, adjacent the pivot rod 66, is a post 126 upstanding from the motor board m. Post 126 functions to hold both of the levers 67 and 68 in an elevated position such as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 9.

The hereinbefore specified disk 83 forms a pa t of governor mechanism of any suitable character for controlling the rotative speed of the turntable 44. Such governor mechanism is well known to the art and any suitable kind may be utilized, as desired. That of the type herein generally illustrated is more specifically shown in the aforesaid application of Weiland and Williams. Further, the action of the pad 82 in controlling the rotative speed of turntable 44 :1

is clearly described in my pending application Serial No. 340,520, filed February 16, 1929. As herein generally illustrated, the governor mechanism comprises a shaft 127 journaled in suitable bearings 128, one of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as upstanding from the plate 111. Shaft 127 carries a worm gear 129 meshing with and being driven by a Worm gear 130 rotatable with the turntable shaft 17, Fig. 3. A plurality of inertia members 131 are carried individually by leaf springs 132, Fig. 4, circumferentially spaced about the shaft 127. One end of each of the leaf springs 132 are secured to a sleeve, not shown. non-slidably fixed to the shaft 127 and rotatable therewith. The other end of each leaf spring 132 is fixed to a sleeve, not shown, slidable on said shaft 127. To said last named sleeve, the above specified disk 83 is secured and the two parts, sleeve and disk, are rotatable together while being movable axially of the shaft 127 in a direction from left to right or vice versa, Fig. 4, to increase or decrease the rotative speed of the drum 3, the gearing operated thereby and, consequently, to correspondingly change the rotative speed of the turntable shaft 17 and the thereby-carried turntable 44, this action, as stated, being particularly described in my aforesaid pending application.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the motor board m, on its upper surface, may detachably carry a receptacle 133 such as described in the pending Weiland application, Serial No. 341,590, filed Feb. 21, 1929. Receptacle 133, preferably, is formed of suitable resilient material, as relatively soft rubber, and comprises a compartment 133a adapted to receive and support the sound box S when the mechanism is not in use and after all records R have been removed from the turntable 44. The receptacle 133 may also comprise a second compartment 1331) adapted as a container for used or worn needles.

To limit downward movement of the sound box S for the purpose hereinafter specified, the goose neck g may carry a laterally projecting member 134, Fig. 1, coactable as a stop member with a Ill screw 135 adjustable in a bracket 136 carried by the adjacent, horizontal section of tone arm T.

In the form of my invention herein illustrated, the talking machine or phonograph mechanism is adapted and arranged as a portable unit. Thus, with the turntable 44 free of records, the tone arm T may be swung in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. l, and the sound box S positioned in the compartment 1330. of receptacle 1'33. Thereupon, the cover C may be swung with respect to the base B and moved to such position that it overlies the latter, and the cover C may be detachably retained in the position last noted by latching mechanism, not shown, but of any suitable character. When the base B and cover C occupy the positions just noted, they form, for all of the mechanism, a closed housing which may readily be transported from place to place, for example, by utilizing a suitable handle, not shown, but carried by said base B.

When the carrier D is provided, it may be filled, either partially or entirely, with talking machine or phonograph records R before the cover C is moved to closed position as described above. Under such circumstances, the cover C and base B form a closed housing, not only for all of the mechanism, but also for a supply of said talking machine or phonograph records R.

An important feature of my invention involves the utilization of the cover C as a receptacle into which individual talking machine or phonograph records R are discharged or passed after each period of sound reproduction. Thus, when the cover C is moved to open position, it may be disposed as illustrated in Fig. 1 to form a receptacle receiving records in succession from the turntable 44, as hereinafter more particularly described.

Talking machine or phonograph records R to which reference has heretofore been made are ordinary circular disk records of a type well known to the art. Each usually comprises, on opposite sides thereof, a spiral. sound reproducing groove terminating in a groove or circle e eccentrically disposed with respect to the record center perforation and hence termed an eccentric groove.

As stated, the spring motor mechanism of the character hereinbefore generally described may be of any suitable type. For example, it may be of the kind employed with present-day commercial portable talking machines. However, with such machines, the energy capacity of the spring motor is rather small and, therefore, it is desirable to employ a motor having such capacity that sound may be reproduced in succession from several talking machine or phonograph records, as four, more or less, without requiring the supply of additional energy to said motor.

The hereinbefore described spring 46 forms an important part of my invention. This spring 46 is weaker than the spring 51 and is so designed that any topmost record R on the turntable 44, when in sound reproducing position, is positioned at a certain predetermined level. In other words, spring 46 is so designed that the weight of one record removed therefrom permits it to expand an amount corresponding substantially with the thickness of one record. Thus, if four records are on the turntable 44, the topmost record is positioned at the aforesaid level. If one record is removed from said turntable 44 leaving but three thereon, the spring 46 expands sufiiciently to position the now topmost or third record at the aforesaid level. Similarly, the spring action is the same when the third and second records are removed, each of the latter being positioned in succession at the aforesaid level.

In lieu of spring elevation for the turntable .44, as described above, any other suitable arrangement may be utilized for performing the same function.

The operation is as follows:

During a period of sound reproduction, the turntable 44 rotates in the position illustrated, for example, in Fig. 3, the sound box S moving gradually from right to left, Fig. 1, under the influence of the spiral sound reproducing groove on the topmost record R. on said turntable 44. Eventually, the stylus s of sound box S engages the eccentric groove e in which said sound reproducing groove terminates and, as a result, said sound box S is moved in a direction the reverse of that taken thereby while moving to reproduce sound as described above. In other words, the eccentric groove e causes the sound box S to move from left to right, Fig. 1.

While the stylus s of sound box S is in engagement with the spiral sound reproducing groove asdescribed above, the rotating drum 3 and gear impart rotation to the gear 11, sleeve 12, shaft 13 and the two gears 14 and 15, Figs. 3 and 4.

Gear 14, through the gear 16, rotates the turntable shaft 17, Figs. 3 and 5.

Gear 15, through the gear 18, rotates the cam shaft 20 and the clutch wheel 22, Fig. 4, the latter, as described above, being secured to the cam shaft 20 for rotation therewith. At this time, however, the lever 29 engages the end of clutch lever 23 as shown in Fig. 2 whereby the tooth 23a of the latter is held disengaged from the clutch wheel 22. Accordingly, the cams K and K1 together with the automatic mechanism controlled thereby are non-operative during the aforesaid or any period of sound reproduction and, during such a period, the automatic mechanism is said to be out of cycle.

While the sound box S moves under the influence of the spiral sound reproducing groove from right to left, Fig. 1, the pawl 36 partakes of similar movement, Fig. 2, the edged surface thereof idling over the teeth of rack 35, the latter and lever 33, meanwhile, remaining stationary.

At the conclusion of the period of sound reproduction, the stylus s of sound box S moves into the record eccentric groove e, as aforesaid and, as a result, the sound box S is moved in a direction the reverse of that described above or from left to right, Fig. 1. Pawl 36 partakes of movement with the sound box S, and, accordingly, is moved from left to right, Fig. 2. When movement of the pawl 36 is initiated as last described, adjacent teeth of the rack 35 exercise a clutching effect thereon and, during continued movement of the pawl 36 as last described, the lever 33 is swung in aclockwise direction, Fig. 2, to similarly swing the lever 40 due to the hereinbefore described connection between said levers 33 and 40. Lever 40, when thus swung, at its depending section 401) engages the screw 32 carried by lever 29. As a result, lever 29 is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, and the angular section 290 thereof is disengaged from the end of clutch lever 23, the latter, under the influence of spring 2'7, engaging the clutch wheel 22 at its tooth 23a. It results, therefore, that the disk 25 together with the cams K and K1 are connected to the rotating cam shaft 20 for clockwise movement, Fig. 2, through an angle of 360 degrees. In this manner, the automatic mechanism is placed in operation and, when in such condition, is termedas in cycle.

Immediately at the beginning of the cycle of the automatic mechanism, the low section '75 of cam K1 recedes from the cam roller at the end of arm '73a of lever 73. Accordingly, lever l3 is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, against the action of spring for a two-fold purpose:

1. Through the link '76, post 77, and lever 78 together with its flange 781), the pad 82 is moved from left to right, Fig. 4, whereby the governor disk 83 is moved in the same direction, Fig. 4 under the influence of the centrifugal action of the inertia members 131 to thereby increase the rotative speed of the drum 3 and, consequently of the cam shaft. 20, beyond the normal speed value thereof which exists while sound is being reproduced whereby the available supply of power is increased and the automatic cycle shortened. The cam shaft 20 continues to rotate at such increased speed, except when the load is exceptionally'heavy, during persistence of the automatic cycle or until the cam K1 has: rotated through an angle of nearly 360 degrees at which time, the low section 75 thereof returns to coincidence; with the cam roller at the end of arm 73a of, lever 23, permitting counter-clockwise movement, Fig. 2, of lever '73 under the influence of spring 105 and return of pad 82 to its normal position thereby moving governor disk 83 to such position that the rotative speed of drum 3 becomes normal. 4

2. The free end of arm 730 of lever 73 is positioned in the path of nose 84a of disk 84 whereby the latter may not be moved in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, to discontinue oper ation of the motive device. Arm 730 of lever 73 is thus positioned in the path of said nose 34a during persistence of the cycle of automatic operation or until lever 73 is swung in a counterclockwise direction,,,Fig. 2, as described above. It results, therefore, that operation of the motive device may not be suspended during a period of automatic operation.

The disk 25 has a spiral surface extending therearound, Fig. 2, said surface terminating in the cam surface 25b. Roller 29b coacts with said spiral surface andyas said disk 25; slowly moves in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, the lever 29, to greater and greater extent; is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2. As a result, the rack 35 is movable out of the path of pawl 36 by action thereon of the latter later in the cycle, as hereinafter described. Just prior to termination of the cycle pf automatic operation, the cam roller 29b drops behind'the cam surface 25b thereby positioning the end 290 of lever 29. in the path of the end of clutch lever 23 to swing the same against spring 27 and disengage tooth 230. from clutch wheel 22 at the termination of the automatic cycle. At the same time, rack 35 is properly positioned by action of spring 34 on lever 33 and the engagement between roller 29b and cam surface 25 prevents chattering engagement of the clutch parts.

Cam K, as it starts to move in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, permitscounter-clockwise move.- ment, Fig. 2, of lever 49 under the influence of spring 51. Such movement of Jever 49 is trans: mitted by link 52 to lever 53 to cause counterclockwise movement, Fig. 3, of the latter, the bracket 56 and the member 58, the rollers 58b of the latter engaging the flange 452 of sleeve 45d to depress the rotating turntable 44 against the actionrof spring 46. The turntable 44 thus continues to be lowered or depressed while the cam roller 49a of lever 49, coacts with the section a2 of cam The section (13 0f cam K is concentric with the cam shaft 20 or substantially so and, accordingly, while the cam roller 49a of lever 49 coacts with said cam section a3, the turntable 44 is maintained in its depressed position or substantially so. a c

7 During, engagement of the cam roller 49a of lever 49 with the section a4 of cam K, the lever 49 is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, expanding' the spring 51 and permitting elevation of the turntable 44 under the influence of spring 46. As the cam section :14 passes beyond the cam roller 49a, the turntable 44 has been returned to substantially the position occupied thereby during the period of sound reproduction.

The section a5 of cam K is concentric with the cam shaft 20 or substantially so and, accordingly, while the cam roller 49a of lever 49 coacts with said cam section (15, the turntable 44' is maintained in its fully elevated position or substantially so.

The section a6 of cam K corresponds with the a'foresaidcam section a2 and, accordingly, the turntable 44 is lowered while the cam roller 49a coacts with said cam section (16.

The section 0.7 of cam K corresponds with 1 The section a8 of cam K corresponds with the aforesaid cam section a4 and, accordingly, the turntable 44 is returned to substantially the position occupied thereby during the period of sound reproduction as the cam roller 49a passes into engagement with thehighest part of said cam section (18.. At this time, the cycle of the automatic operation is concluded.

'The post 59 moves in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, with the cam K. The slot 71a of lever '71 is thus caused to move substantially from left to right, Fig; 2, with respect to the post 72 which extends through said slot and extends first horizontally and then depends from the vertical section of the tone arm T, Fig. 3. a

As the turntable 44 and the records R carried thereby descend under the influence of'section d2 of cam K, the stop member'134 approaches and engages the stop member 135, Fig. 1.. Thereupon. as the turntable 44 continues descending, the topmost record R recedes from the'stylus s of sound box S. Soon thereafter, the end wall to the left of slot 7la of lever 71 engages the aforesaid post *72 and, during continued movement of post 59 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, the tone arm T and sound box'S are swung in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 1, until the sound box S and its stylus s are without the periphery of the'turntable 44 and the records R thereon, such action being permitted because, due to action of the spiral surface on disk 25, the rack 35 is held against pawl 36 only by action of the light spring 34. After the sound box S has been thus positioned, the lever '11 starts to move substantially from right to left, Fig. 2, the slot 71a moving with respect to the post 72 without effect thereon until much later in the automatic cycle.

The above described movement of the sound box S should be complete before the cam section a4 functions to elevate the turntable 44 and the records R thereon.

While the turntable 44 is being lowered and elevated as described immediately above, the post 59 is moving through the slot 61a of lever 61. Soon after the turntable 44 is returned to its elevated position, said post 59 reaches the end of said slot 61a and starts to move the lever 63 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, against the action of spring 63a. The post 64 and the parts carried thereby are similarly moved and, as the lever 67 recedes from the post 126, the angular seat 670. drops upon the rotating turntable-carried topmost record R, said seat 67a acting as a gauge to position the beveled end 68b of lever 68 just between the two topmost rotating records R as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9.

During continued movement of lever 61 and post 64 in the direction described above, the beveled end 681) of lever 68 passes to greater and greater extent beneath said topmost record, thereby causing the same to tilt to greater and greater extent, the levers 67 and 68 separating somewhat against the action of spring 70. Just as the tilting action becomes sufiicient to cause said topmost record R to clear the upper end of shaft 17, said record R, by a force applied tangentially thereto at its point of contact with the next lowest record and under the influence of energy derived from its rotary motion, is given a motion of translation whereby it passes into the cover C, Fig. 1. In this manner, that record R from which sound has just been reproduced is removed from the turntable T.

Soon after a record R is discharged from the turntable T as described immediately above, counter-clockwise movement, Fig. 2, of lever 63 is discontinued and the post 59 starts to retrace its path in the opposite direction through slot 610., said post 59 eventually reaching the end of said slot 61a nearest the lever 63 as the period of sound reproduction is concluded. When the post 59 I starts to retrace its path as described above, the

spring 63a swings lever 63 clockwise, Fig. 2, and, as soon as post 59 has moved sufficiently, positions said lever 63 and the parts carried thereby as illustrated in Fig. 9.

- During the record-removing operation dedescribed above, the section :25 of cam K was coacting with the cam roller 49a and, accordingly, the turntable 44 remained in its uppermost position. After completion of the record-removing operation, the section a6 of cam K becomes effective to cause depression of the turntable 44 as described above; thereafter. also as described above, said turntable 44 is maintained in its lower position while the section a? of cam K is active.

While the turntable 44 is maintained in its lower position, as aforesaid, the end wall of the slot 71a of lever 71 to the right, Fig. 2, comes into engagement with the post '12 to thereby swing the tone arm T and sound box S clockwise, Fig. 1, to an extent causing the stylus s to be positioned vertically above a point between the sound reproducing spiral groove and the outer edge of the record R on the turntable 44 from which sound is next to be reproduced. As soon as the stylus s is thus positioned, the lever 71 starts to move from left to right, Fig. 2, and, as the cycle of automatic operation is discontinued, reaches the position shown in Fig. 2.

Under the influence of the section a8 of cam K, the turntable 44 is caused to ascend, the topmost record R thereon engaging the stylus s and slightly elevating the sound box S to cause some separation of the stop members 134 and 135, Fig. 1, before coming to its fully elevated position which it does just as the cycle of automatic operation is concluded as the cam K reaches the position shown in Fig. 2.

Just prior to the conclusion of the cycle of automatic operation, the lever 73 is moving counterclockwise, Fig. 2. Due to the connection between the arm 730 of lever 73 and the lever 123, as effected by the link 122, said lever 123 is thereby moved slightly counter-clockwise, Fig. 2, to cause the spring 125, by engagement effected with the post 72, to move the stylus s of sound box S gently into the spiral sound reproducing groove of the now topmost record R on the turntable T whereby the next period of sound reproduction is initiated.

In the manner described above, sound is reproduced from the now topmost record R on the turntable 44, after which a period of automatic operation ensues to cause the discharge from said turntable 44 of the record from which sound has just been reproduced and to position the stylus s in the entrance to the spiral sound reproducing groove of that record from which sound is next to be reproduced. Such operations continue automatically and in sequence until sound has been reproduced from the lowermost or last record on the turntable 44, or until, for some reason, it is desired to discontinue operation of the mechanism as a whole.

To discontinue operation of the motive device, the section 91a of lever 91 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, whereby the nose 91b of said lever 91 is disengaged from the adjacent end of arm 93a of lever 93. As a result, the spring 94 becomes efiective to move disk 84 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2. By so doing, the lever 87 is swung clockwise, Fig. 2, and the pad 89 is moved into engagement with the governor disk 83 to discontinue rotation of the latter and all parts connected thereto including, of course, the motor drum 3.

To initiate operation of the motive device, the lever 91 is actuated to move the disk 84 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, until in the position shown. Pin 93f on lever arm 93a is maintained in engagement with cam surface 84 of disk 84 by spring 96 and, therefore, the end of said lever arm 93a comes into position where it may be engaged, as shown, with the nose 91b of lever 91.

The head 81a of screw 81 may be rotated in one direction or the other, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, to coact with the inclined face 78a of lever 78 whereby the pad 82 is moved either toward or from the disk 83 to vary the position of the latter. In this manner, the speed of the motive device may be regulated as desired.

If, during a period of sound reproduction, it is desired to reject or discontinue the reproduction of sound from the then topmost record on the turntable 44 and to initiate a period of sound reproduction from the next lowermost record, the knob 119, Fig. 1, may be depressed to partially rotate the rod whereby the angular end 120!) of the latter, by coaction with the finger 33b of lever 33, moves the latter in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, to initiate a period of sound reproduction the same as if said lever 33 had been actuated by reverse movement of the pawl 36. Accordingly, in response to such depression of knob 119, the period of sound reproduction is immediately discontinued with consequent discharge of the topmost record R from the turntable 44 and initiation of a succeeding period of sound reproduction from the next lowermost record R,

all of the automatic operations being as hereinbefore described.

Should it be desired to operate the herein-described mechanism manually or non-automatically, the lever 115 may be swung in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 8, to actuate the link and move the lever 98 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2. In so doing, the depending member 109 at the end of lever arm 980 is brought into coacting relation with the cam surface 40c of lever 40 to swing the latter in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 6, against the action of spring 42. As a result, the depending section 40b of said lever 40 is elevated above the screw 32 carried by lever 29, and the screw 43, carried by the depending lug 40d of said lever 40, is lowered into the level of the upstanding flange 93e of lever arm 93c.

Ordinarily, the mechanism is placed in condition for manual operation when the motive device is not operating. If so, the lever 93 has been swung counter-clockwise Fig. 2, and, accordingly, when the lever 98 is swung counter-clockwise, as just described, the screw 108 passes to one side of the angular end 97a of spring 9'7. Due to the provision of such angular spring end 97a, the lever 93 may readily be swung clockwise, Fig. 2, to cause operation of the motive device. Should the mechanism be placed in condition for manual operation when the motive device is operating, the screw 108 contacts with the spring 97 to swing the lever 93 counter-clockwise, Fig. 2, and immediately discontinue operation of said motive device. In so doing, however, the screw 108 passes to one side of the angular end 97a of spring 97 as described above. Because thus positioned, the lever 93 may thereafter be swung clockwise, Fig. 2, to cause operation of the motive device when desired.

With the parts arranged for manual operation, reverse movement of the pawl 36 at the conclusion of a period of sound reproduction causes movement of the levers 33 and 40 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, the same as heretofore described. However, the depending section 4017 of lever 40 is no longer engageable with the screw 32 and hence the lever 29 is not actuated in response to such movement of the lever 40. The screw 43, however, carried by lever 40 has been so moved that it is engageable with the flange 93e of lever 93.

Accordingly, in response to such clockwise movement of the lever 40, the lever 93 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, and the end of lever arm 93a is disengaged from the nose 91b of lever 90. As a result, the disk 84 is moved counter-clockwise, Fig. 2, to discontinue opera tion of the motive device in the manner hereinbefore described. Since the lever 29 is not actuated in response to such clockwise movement of the lever 40, it results that the clutch mechanism is not connected nor any of the automatic mechanism set in operation upon conclusion of the last noted period of sound reproduction.

After operation of the motive device is discontinued as described above, the sound box S may be manually removed from the record from which sound has just been reproduced, said record manually removed from the turntable 44, another record manually placed thereon, the sound box S placed in starting position on said last named record, and the lever 91 manually actuated to initiate another period .of sound reproduction. At the conclusion of the latter, operation of the motive device is again discontinued provided the lever has not been actuated or returned to the position illustrated which is the automatic position.

The hereinbefore described lever 103 is pivoted to the U-shaped post 64. The latter, as described, once during each cycle of automatic operation, moves toward the turntable 44 to effect-discharge therefrom of the record from which sound has just been reproduced. If one or more records R are on said turntable 44 as the U-shaped member thus moves toward the latter, the upper end 10% of lever 103 engages the same to swing said lever 103 counter-clockwise, Fig. 9, so that, during continued movement of said lever 103 toward the turntable 44, the lever end 103a does not engage the lateral projection 99b of member 99.

However, when the last record R on the tumtable 44 is being tilted preparatory to discharge thereof, the lever 103 is not engaged by said record or swung counter-clockwise as described immediately above and, therefore, during continued movement of said lever 103 toward the turntable 44, the end 103a thereof engages the lateral projection 99b of member 99 and moves the same from left to right, Figs. 2 and 9, to swing the lever 98 counter-clockwise, Fig. 2, to an extent suflicient to cause the screw 108 to engage and move the spring 97 whereby movement of the lever 93 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, occurs and the end of lever arm 93a is disengaged from the nose 91b to cause discontinuation of operation of the motive device. In this manner, the operation of the hereindescribed mechanism is discontinued in the event that no records R areon the turntable 44.

Mechanism of the character heretofore described is utilizable automatically in connection with records of but one diameter such, for example, as ordinary commercial records of ten inch diameter. To the end that sound may be reproduced non-automatically or manually from records having larger diameter than for which the automatic mechanism is designed, the arrangement involving the post 126 is provided, whereby the levers 67 and 68 are held tilted to sufficient extent when the automatic mechanism is not in cycle to permit manual disposition of a record having larger diameter on the turntable 44.

To repeat sound successively from the same record, suitable mechanism, not shown, may be provided to hold or latch the levers 67 and 68 in the position shown in Fig. 9, for example. Accordingly, the topmost record from which sound has just been reproduced will not be removed from the turntable 44 during the ensuing automatic cycle and sound will again be reproduced from said topmost record. When the aforesaid mechanism is unlatched, the levers 6'7 and 68 again become effective to remove the topmost record R from said turntable 44 during the next cycle of automatic operation.

Although the machine or mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is intended particularly for records wherein the spiral sound reproducing groove terminates in a cir cular groove eccentrically disposed with respect to the record center, it shall be understood that my invention is not to be thus limited. Under some circumstances, it may be desirable to suecessively initiate cycles of the automatic mechanism otherwise than by a control performed by the eccentric grooves on the respective records. Thus, for example, the control may be eifected by the Crowell type of groove which comprises generally a large pitch spiral extending from the spiral sound reproducing groove and terminating in a circular groove concentrically disposed with respect to the record center.

It shall also be understood that in no manner at all is my invention to be limited to the utilization of an acoustical or mechanical type of sound box wherein sound waves originated by the sound box diaphragm are transmitted through a tone arm or taper tube and thence to an amplifying horn. In lieu of a sound box, as aforesaid, any desired type of a pick-up may be utilized, such a pick-up, as well understood in the art, generating or modifying an electrical current in response to actuation of an armature,- or equivalent, by the talking machine or phonograph records, the aforesaid electrical current operating aloud speaker, or equivalent, disposed either in the base B containing the automatic mechanism or in a casing separate therefrom, as 'desired.

An important feature or advantage of the hereinbefore described system or arrangement for manipulating talking machine or phonograph records resides in the provision of the reciprocatory turntable for successively elevating records to and removing them from the sound reproducing position. By virtue of this arrangement, lateral movement of the sound box, or equivalent, and its tone arm or equivalent, is efiected in such manner that a given point thereon moves only in a single plane, usually a horizontal plane, neglecting, of course, the movement of the sound box, or equivalent, early and late in each cycle when it leaves and is engaged by a record supported on the descending and rising turntable.

Although but a single motive device has been herein illustrated and described f6r jointly operating the turntable and the automatic mechanism it shall be understood, if desired, that a plurality of motive devices may be utilized, one to operate the turntable and another to operate the automatic mechanism, the eccentric groove or other control connecting said automatic mechanism to its motive device at the proper times to effect the series of automatic operations.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a casing, and a cover hinged to said casing, said cover being movable from closed position into a position at one side of said casing for the reception of played records, of automatic mechanism in said casing, a turntable for supporting a talking machine or phonograph record, means for reproducing sound from said record, and means controlled by said automatic mechanism for passing said record into said cover at the conclusion of the period of sound reproduction.

2. The combination with automatic mechanism for reproducing sound from a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records in succession, of a pair of casings pivoted together to form a portable housing for said automatic mechanism, one of said casings being movable relative to the other to a position for the reception of records from said other casing, and means for effecting the transfer of played records to said relatively movable casing after each successive record has been reproduced.

3. The combination with automatic mechanism for reproducing sound from a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records in succession and for removing each record from reproducing position after it has been played, of a pair of casings pivoted together to form a portable housing for said automatic mechanism, one of said casings, when opened from the other, receiving said records after movement thereof by said automatic mechanism, said automatic mechanism including a motor disposed in one of said casings.

4. The combination with a turntable having a group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a sound reproducing instrumentality movable across the topmost record to reproduce sound, of means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and the records thereon from said instrumentality, means for moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record, means for removing said topmost record from the group of records, and means for effecting engagement between said instrumentality and the now topmost record of the group of records.

5. The combination with a turntable having a group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a sound reproducing instrumentality movable across the topmost record to reproduce sound, of L means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and the records thereon from said instrumentality, means for moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record and with a given point thereon travelling only in substantially a horizontal plane, means for removing said topmost record from the group of records, and means for effecting engagement between said instrumentality and the now topmost record of the group of records.

6. The combination with a turntable having a group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a sound reproducing instrumentality movable across the topmost record to reproduce sound, of means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and the records thereon from said instrumentality, means for moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record, means for removing said topmost record from the group of records, and means for elevating the group of records to bring the now topmost record into engagement with said instrumentality.

'7. The combination with a turntable having a group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a sound reproducing instrumentality movable across the topmost record to reproduce sound, of means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and the records thereon from said instrumentality, means for moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record, means for removing said topmost record from the group of records, and means for elevating the group of records to bring the now topmost record into engagement with said instrumentality and into sound reproducing position at substantially the 'on from said instrumentality, means for moving disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a sound reproducing instrumentality movable across the topmost record to reproduce sound, of means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and the records there= said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record, means for removing said topmost record from the group of records under the influence of energy derivedjirom the rotary motion thereof and means for elevating the group of records to bring the now topmost record into engagement with said instrumentality.

9. The combination with a turntable having a group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a sound reproducing instrumentality movable across the topmost record to reprodime sound} of means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and the records thereon from said instrumentality, means for moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record and with a records thereon from said instrumentality, means for moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record, means for elevating the group of records, means for'removing said topmost record from the group of rec-' ords, means for lowering the group of 'records, means for moving saidiinstrumentality to a po-' sition above a point just within the periphery of the now topmost record, and means for elevating L the group of records to bring said last named record into engagement with said instrumentality. V

11. *The combination with a turntable havinga group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a esson sound reproducing instrumentality movable across the topmost record to reproduce sound, of means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and'the records thereon from said instrumentality, means for moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record, means for elevating the group of records, means for removing said topmost record from the group of records under the influence of energy derived from the rotary motion thereof, means for lowering the group of records, means for moving said instrumentality to a position above a point Just within the periphery of the now topmost record, and means for elevating the group of records to bring said last named record into engagement with said instrumentality.

12. The combination with' a turntable having a group of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, and a sound reproducing instrumentaiity movable across the topmost record to reproduce sound while the latter occupies a predetermined level, of means effective after the period of sound reproduction for lowering said turntable and the records thereon from said instrumentality, means [or moving said instrumentality laterally toward the periphery of said topmost record and with a given point thereon travelling only in substantially a horizontal plane, means for elevating the group of records, means for removing said topmost record fronrthe group of records under the influence'of energy derived from the rotary motion thereof, means for lowering the group of records, means for moving said instrumentality to a position above a point just within the periphery of the now topmost record, and means for elevating the group of records to bring said last named record into engagement with said instrumentality and into sound reproducing position at said predetermined level.

13. The combination with a vertically movable turntable having a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records disposed thereon in superposed relation, of automatic mechanism for successively reproducing sound from the respective records, said mechanism comprising means for discharging the topmost record from the group of records after each period of sound reproduction, and means responsive to absence of all records from said turntable for discontinuing operation of said automatic mechanism, said last named means comprising a member movable toward said turntable after each period of sound reproduction.

' RUDOLPH F. MALLINA. 

